Story By Arian Horbovetz. Arian is a Rochester resident and creator of The Urban Phoenix, a blog that discusses urban and community design and topics as our cities transition to a better future.
I get it, if you’ve never taken the bus before, the proposition of hopping on one is a little scary. Nobody wants to look like they don’t know where they are going or what to do. The hardest part for riders in most cities is knowing when a bus is coming, where to get it and what bus to take.
Fear not, for we are in an amazing time of digital information! RTS has its own app, so you can know where your bus is and what time to be at your stop (very handy on rainy or snowy days). You can also plan your trip via desktop at myrts.com. Some people find the app a bit clunky or don’t want another app on their phones, so turn to Google.
Download the free Google Maps app on your smartphone, enter your destination and click directions. Then if your starting point is different from where you currently are, you can add that as well. Be sure to select the “transit” icon on the screen for directions that feature bus service.
Be sure to click the Transit icon when searching for directions via bus
For this example, I want to travel from Reconnect Rochester’s headquarters on 1115 East Main Street to our Louis M. Slaughter station to catch an Amtrak train. The map will show me the best bus routes coming up in the next hour or two…
But right now it’s 9:23am… Since my Amtrak train departs Rochester at 2:03pm, I want to see which bus will work for me this afternoon, not right now. In this case, I can click on the drop-down arrow next to “depart at” and select “arrive by” instead. I know I want to arrive at the train station by 1:55pm to be safe on time, so I can enter that time into the Google Maps and the app will show me the best bus options to get me there on time.
I can see right on the app that I need to leave Reconnect Rochester at 1:26pm and walk a short distance to the Main and Minges bus stop, where the bus will depart at 1:27pm. The bus will arrive at the transit center at 1:35pm, and from there I can walk North to the train station, which should take 10 minutes. I will arrive at the train station at 1:45pm with plenty of time to prepare for my train departure.
Don’t have a smartphone? Go to Google Maps on your desktop or laptop and follow the same instructions above. Remember to bring a dollar for each bus ride you need to take! When you approach your destination, remember to pull firmly on the cord running along the side of the bus to signal the driver that you would like to disembark. And if you don’t want to walk to-and-from the bus, you can bring your bike with you!
Google Maps has done wonders for the directionally challenged with regard to easy automobile navigation, but it can also empower us to efficiently utilize our urban transit systems. The fear of not knowing which bus to take and when, and where to go to catch it is almost completely alleviated, and for most of us, that’s half the battle. So if you’ve hesitated to explore Rochester using public transit (it’s cheap, easy and you don’t have to worry about parking!), try using Google Maps and plan your trip with the confidence of a pro!
Story By Arian Horbovetz. Arian is a Rochester resident and creator of The Urban Phoenix, a blog that discusses urban and community design and topics as our cities transition to a better future.
Brighton will soon open a new piece of pedestrian and cycling connectivity as the long awaited “Highland Crossing Trail” moves closer to completion. A joint collaborative effort between The City Of Rochester and The Town Of Brighton, the new mixed-use trail will combine crushed stone paths with double-wide sidewalks through Brighton, connecting the Erie Canalway Trail and the Genesee Riverway Trail via Brighton Town Town Park and Highland Park.
Photo from The Town of Brighton website featuring the Highland Crossing Trail Route
The project, more than a decade in the making, will wind through Brighton, connecting the already existing trail from The Erie Canalway through Brighton Town Park to Westfall Road, Elmwood Avenue near Lilac Drive, Highland Park, South Avenue near May Street, and eventually the Genesee Riverway Trail via Mount Hope and McLean Street. The section between Westfall and Elmwood is particularly key, as it bridges a gap for pedestrians and cyclists that would otherwise mean traversing busy roads like South Ave. and Clinton.
This crushed-stone portion of the Highland Crossing Trail will be a vital piece of connectivity between Elmwood Avenue to the north (shown here) and The Erie Canalway Trail via Brighton Town Park to the south One of the many “double wide” mixed use sidewalk portions of the Highland Crossing Trail. This section along South Avenue was completed in time for this year’s Lilac Festival
“I am excited to partner with the City of Rochester on the Highland Crossing Trail project,” said Brighton Town Supervisor Bill Moehle. “Trails enhance the quality of life in our community by connecting people and neighborhoods, and by bringing people closer to nature. The Highland Crossing Trail will connect the Erie Canal Trail in Brighton to the Genesee Riverway Trail in Rochester and will be the latest link in Brighton’s expanding trail system.”
Moehle’s trail reference includes the “Brickyard Trail” which opened in 2016, connecting the town’s residential neighborhoods and library with Buckland Park.
Elmwood Avenue entrance to The Brickyard Trail in BrightonBrickyard Trail
The Highland Crossing Trail is a welcomed collaboration between The City of Rochester and The Town of Brighton, helping to sew the multi-modal and recreational fabric of our communities together. While seemingly a small step, the importance of this urban/suburban partnership to improve connectivity and quality of life in our area cannot be overstated. This new mixed-use project highlight’s Brighton and Rochester’s commitment to a rich trail system that facilitates commuting, fitness, recreation and family activities in the hopes of a healthier, more sustainable community that encourages all types of active mobility.
Guest blog by Calvin Eaton. Calvin is the founder of 540WMain Communiversity, a grassroots non-profit community based university. Calvin is a digital content creator, social entrepreneur, and educator whose area of expertise includes antiracism, diversity, inclusion, K-12 curriculum writing and teaching, gluten free plant based living, and higher education.
If you’ve followed my journey over the last couple of years you probably know that I sold my car in June 2018 and became a car-free professional. There are so many reasons why going car-free was the best decision for me and I want to share a few things I’ve learned over the past year and why I plan to continue my car-free lifestyle.
Like every typical American teen I couldn’t’ wait to get my drivers license so I could enter into grown up world of driving. Like most youth I had been indoctrinated to believe that getting my drivers license at the ripe old age of sixteen was the consummate mark of becoming an adult. American culture worships the car and the transition from child to pre-teen to adult is distinctly marked by getting a drivers license and soon after getting your first car. I admit that for me a drivers license (and by proxy a car) represented freedom, independence, and adulthood. At no point in my adolescence did I question this societal standard, ask why car ownership is idolized, or ask if youth in other cultures are cultivated to own a car at the stroke of sixteen like we are here in America.
After years of driving and adulting; last year I came to the strong conclusion that I honestly do not enjoy driving. In actuality, I hate driving. Driving for me is a sometimes necessity to get from point A to point B or take care of very specific tasks in life. Generally speaking, for me the process and responsibility of driving and more importantly being a responsible driver is stressful. After years of being car payment free and then bucking to societal pressure and getting a lease for a new Honda in 2016, last year I came to a dramatic conclusion that none of it was worth it. Not the maintenance, not the insurance payments, not the monthly car payments. I realized that I do not enjoy driving enough to own my own car and it was this realization that served as my primary reason to get sell my car and become car- free.
What I’ve Learned
Since then public transportation has become my primary means of mobility throughout the City. For me, public transportation works great. I live on a main bus line, work remotely and spend most of my time in the inner city going between the east and west parts of the City via Main Street. Most of my deviation from this daily norm is my travel to area colleges for co-working and meetings. For these times I use Lyft. In addition to these methods of mobility, I walk and sometimes bike. Walking and biking would be more part of my daily regimen if I did not have to deal with the ill and daily effects of living fibromyalgia and chronic pain which sometimes make walking and exercise difficult. Still since ditching my car I am happy to get in more daily steps and see more of the City. When the weather is clear walking is so beautiful and it has been a great way to place myself in spaces and places that I would never enter into if I commuted by car.
I understand that my work and and life affords me privileges that make going car free much easier for me than others. Still I am glad that I am in the position to bring more awareness to public transit, biking, and even walking to get around the City. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that for many young professionals like myself it is really about having a repertoire of easy to access mobility options at the ready when I need them. For me, having a car every single day is just not necessary. However it is necessary for me to be able to have a roster of easily accessible mobility options at my beck and call when I need them. There are some days that I will take the bus in the morning and then take a Lyft back home. Sometimes I borrow a family member’s car when I need to transport something then I drop it off to them mid-day and walk to the bus stop to get to my next destination. Just today, I took the bus downtown, took two meetings, then walked back home. I had my mother drop me off at the public market and then hailed a Lyft to 540WMain. This type of multi-mobility has become just as common and seamless for me as jumping in a car was just a few years ago.
I’ll admit that sometimes planning out my transit in advance can be a minor annoyance and every now and then after a late night class at 540, I wish I didn’t have to wait for the next bus; but for me these moments are few and far between. Because I have designed a highly dense life where everything that I need is within close proximity a car is not only impractical for to get around Rochester but burdensome. I just do not need a car every day and when I do need one, I have the access for that specific occasion and once that is fulfilled my needs are met.
I recognize that going car-free is not the lifestyle nor an option for for everyone but for those that are able to ditch the car or use their cars less, tapping into the biking community is not only good for the earth but good for our City. The more folks that use RTS the more services and infrastructure that will be created to accommodate a more comprehensive system. This will normalize public transit as a viable and accessible mobility option. The more folks who bike for commute the more biking will be normalized on our City streets and force officials, planners, and policy makers to make spaces and communities that support intentional bike infrastructure and design. As we travel deeper into 21st century living we need to be less reliant on cars and more reliant on urbanscapes that make mobility easy and accessible for everyone. Owning a car should be a choice not a necessity to tap into all that our City has to offer.
Story By Susan Levin. Susan is a cycling advocate, board member at Reconnect Rochester and chair of the Rochester Cycling Alliance workgroup.
The Rochester Women’s Bike Festival is back for its second year in Corn Hill! The Festival will be at Adams Street Recreation Center, 85 Adams St. on Saturday, June 15 from 9 AM to 3 PM. The event is free! Registration is available here. Watch for updates at facebook.com/rochesterwomenbike
Why are we creating a bicycling-event focused on women? Studies have shown that women will use a bicycle for everyday transportation if it’s convenient, comfortable, and safe. When women ride, they teach and encourage their children to get around the same way. For some, it’s economical—for the cost of a few tanks of gas, she can have reliable two-wheeled transportation all the time. Cycling also promotes physical and mental health. In the end, her whole community is safer if she feels it’s safe to get around by bicycle at all.
Over 130 women (and a few men) attended the event last year as participants, speakers, vendors, and volunteers. Three bicycles, donated by R Community Bikes, were given away as attendance prizes at the end of the day, along with gift baskets, salon certificates and bicycle accessories. There were ten breakout sessions throughout the day, and in between sessions, a complimentary breakfast and lunch were served. Four women were chosen to learn, hands-on, how to repair a flat tire and dozens of women practiced loading and unloading a bicycle on an RTS bus.
The Festival is offering space for women to ask questions, learn, and try out bikes in an understanding and non-intimidating atmosphere. Men are welcome to attend, as long as they are also there to encourage women to bike, but be prepared to discuss women-centered topics.
This year, RWBF organizers, including Corn Hill business owner Karen Rogers of Exercise Express, are planning an even bigger and better event.
Additions to this year’s festival include: on-street practice rides led by LCIs (League Cycling Instructors, a certification program from the League of American Bicyclists), healthier food options, more vendors in the Expo area, and more speakers. The RTS bus and Pace Bikes will both be back. Also returning is the bike zoo, where women will be able to test ride different kinds of bikes, such as cargo and e-bikes. REI and Tryon Bike, along with Bianchi Dama representatives, are scheduled to present short maintenance clinics. Breakout sessions will include: How and where to buy a bike; How to bike with children; How to grocery shop by bike; How to find a group ride and more.
Feel free to drop in and visit the vendor booths, the Bike Zoo and all the sessions. You can also sign up via that link to volunteer or request to host a vendor table. Volunteers will be needed for greeters, set up and break down, staffing info tables and general gophers. Vendors can be about bikes or any sort of organization who would be of interest to women who bike.
Story By Arian Horbovetz. Arian is a Rochester resident and creator of The Urban Phoenix, a blog that discusses urban and community design and topics as our cities transition to a better future.
The mind conjures the 7-year-old’s awkward stride as her kid legs push vigorously against the ground to gain speed as she holds on to the handlebars for dear life. Or maybe it’s the formidable mustache of Kevin James in the movie “Paul Blart, Mall Cop” as he patrols his local shopping center on a Segway. The fact is, since the scooter was invented, it’s been viewed almost exclusively as a children’s toy, or a middle-aged man’s vehicle toward social isolation. Or rather, those were the only definitions until just a few years ago, when venture-capital startup giants with names like Lime and Bird began dropping electric scooters down in US cities, almost overnight. Now with over 60 cities sporting these new motorized transportation marvels, the former adult stigma of riding a scooter has turned into a national movement.
And if you haven’t heard, we’re next.
A few weeks ago, the first news stories began reporting that Rochester will see these two-wheeled machines hit our streets as soon as this year. As no surprise, this announcement has been met with equal parts optimism and skepticism, with some excited to see a new transportation option in our city, and others worried about what hazards they could bring. In any event, e-scooters are a very divisive and at times heated topic, so let’s take a look at what we really know about them.
What Is E-Scooter Share?
Just like our Pace bike share network in Rochester, e-scooter sharing is a smartphone app-based system whereby you can easily locate an e-scooter near you, activate it with your phone, pilot the machine to your destination and end the ride on your phone when you’re done. Just like bike share, you’ll be charged based on the amount of time you use the e-scooter.
E-scooters are far more robust than the small kick scooters you see children riding. Equipped with formidable electric motors, these machines have a top speed of 15mph, allowing you to zip around the city at a respectable speed without breaking a sweat. Literally. No kicking, no pedaling, just hit the throttle and go.
While e-scooter share systems started on the streets of San Francisco in 2012, the phenomenon really exploded in 2017-2018. Large venture capital-based companies with names like Lime and Bird began distributing e-scooters in western cities with no warning, almost overnight, and typically, without the blessing of local government. In fact, electric scooters weren’t even legal in many of these municipalities.
In spite of this, e-scooters become instantly popular, garnering use from the curious urban fun-seeker to the daily commuter alike. By the time cities began to question the legal, safety and community impact of these micro-mobility machines, people had become so attached to them that they fought vigorously for their continued existence. The e-scooter startups had created such a strong public demand in such a short period of time, it almost forced local governments to grant licensing, change laws and accommodate for their continued use.
In 2018, e-scooter share trips topped 38.5 million across the country. For the first time, scooter share trips exceeded bike share trips (36.5 million) in the U.S., even though bike share has been established in US cities far longer. Like it or not, e-scooters are booming, and the trend shows no sign of slowing.
As of now, e-scooters are not legal in New York State. This will likely change sooner rather than later. Support from Governor Cuomo, and more recently a bill introduced by State Senator Jessica Ramos and Assembly Member Nily Rozic are putting the wheels in motion for municipalities to make their own laws regarding e-scooter operation. Cities and communities would be left to decide whether or not to allow e-scooters, as well as legal restrictions on their use.
What Are The Positives?
E-scooters can be tremendous “last mile” or short-to-medium distance transportation options for city residents and visitors. They can facilitate car-free travel without breaking a sweat, or be a fun activity on a warm summer night.
A national study by Qualtrics showed that 55% of Americans believe that e-scooters are a “lasting innovation.” This number was 72% for people that had already used an e-scooter share service. Seventy percent of commuters said they prefer e-scooter share to bike share. Two-thirds of all respondents said they believed that e-scooters had a “positive impact on the environment,” and were good for their city.
Surveys found that 62% of Portlanders viewed e-scooters positively. For respondents under 35 years of age, the support was 71%. Support from people of color was 74%, and support from residents with incomes below $30,000 was 66%. Seventy-one percent of Portland riders used scooters for transportation and 34% of residents and (as well as 48% of visitors) said they took an e-scooter instead of taking a car, using ride hailing services or taking a taxi.
In sum, the few studies that have been conducted on e-scooter use and community impact imply that a majority of people are in favor of their continued use. There is also evidence to show that residents and visitors use them in place of driving or using ride hailing services, which potentially decreases automobile congestion on city streets.
A Bird e-scooter waits for a user on the streets of Portland, Oregon. Photo by Jeremiah Parry-Hill
One of the biggest positives with regard to implementation in Rochester is the fact that Zagster, the trusted company that already operates our Pace bike share service, will be rolling out the new e-scooters. Unlike so many cities across the country in which tech startups have imposed scooter share programs without the blessing of local government, Zagster is working with the city to create a system that fits our needs and addresses major issues. Having an e-scooter operator that already has a positive working relationship with local government and the community is a tremendously positive first step toward a bright future for this service in Rochester.
It’s Not All Roses…
As you may have heard via countless news outlets, e-scooter programs have had their issues. Concerns over safety, “sidewalk litter” and pedestrian disruption are often very valid complaints with regard to these machines.
A safety study conducted by UCLA between September 1st 2017 and August 2018 tracked emergency room visits link to e-scooter share use in Los Angeles and Santa Monica hospitals. In all, e-scooters led to 249 emergency room visits, with no fatalities and two intensive care unit admissions. In the same time period, 195 ER visits for bicycle injuries and 181 visits for pedestrian injuries were reported, suggesting that e-scooters may be more dangerous than walking or biking.
A recent 87-day study conducted by the CDC in Austin, Texas showed similar concerns. The findings showed that, for every 100,000 rides, 20 injuries occurred, and 14% of these injuries led to hospitalization. Sixty percent of the reported injuries were suffered by riders who had used e-scooter share 9 times or less, suggesting a “learning curve” with regard to safe piloting of these machines.
Beyond safety, another concern with regard to these machines is that they tend to create “sidewalk clutter.” This occurs when riders reach their destination and finish their ride, lean the scooter against a tree or pole, only to have a slight wind or something else knock it over. The result is often the presence of e-scooters lying in sidewalks, obstructing pedestrians.
Lime E-Scooters lying in on the sidewalk in Detroit, Michigan. Photo by Chris Clemens from Exploring Upstate
Lastly, while these machines are intended for use in the road, sidewalk riding is a frequent complaint. Since e-scooters can reach 15 miles per hour, the zipping by people on foot at these high speeds can be a nuisance, and potentially dangerous.
Let’s Take A Step Back
Scooters, like cars and bikes, are amazing tools for getting around. But they can potentially be a health risk, especially for new and inexperienced riders. While many people have ridden bikes, it’s safe to say that electric scooters are a very new riding experience for most Americans. There will no doubt be a learning curve when using these machines in our city, as speed, riding position, turning radius and the overall feel will be new to virtually every Rochestarian. With this in mind, it’s important for potential riders to “take it slow” and enjoy these machines carefully when learning how they respond and maneuver.
Let’s also put e-scooters into context. Forty-thousand Americans died and 2.5 million were seriously injured in car crashes last year alone, and most of those were due to operator error. Yet most Americans don’t hesitate to climb into their cars and SUV’s each morning and head off to work. The difference, of course, is that a misstep behind the wheel can cause tremendous harm to the driver and others around them while a bad decision on a bike or scooter will likely only result in the rider being injured. While it’s vital to consider safety for everyone, it’s also important to remember that these are 45 pound machines that can travel 15mph, not 3000 pound SUV’s capable of triple digit speeds. The potential for injury, damage and death that a poorly piloted e-scooter can cause is no match for carelessly driven automobile.
As for the issue of sidewalk litter, e-scooter companies are already searching for creative ways to encourage people to park their machine after using it. Skip, an e-scooter share company that has branded itself on being friendly and compliant, is working on a tethering system in which a rider would use a retractable bike-style lock to secure the scooter to a pole or bike rack after riding. Their scooters are already armed with a sensor that can detect when a scooter parked upright, and when it is simply left on its side as a potential tripping hazard.
Lime has rolled out an in-app feature called “Parked-Or-Not,” which encourages users to take a picture of their properly parked scooter after their ride. Lime and other companies are also testing and considering “points systems,” in which riders would be incentivized to park their machines responsibly with discounts and/or coupons for local establishments.
When cars first hit the streets of American cities, they were heralded as a nuisance and a serious safety hazard. But in a short time they became by far and away the most popular form of transportation in our country. Every mode of transportation has had its growing pains, but kinks are worked out with time, infrastructure gets built, and standards, both legal and societal, naturally evolve. For all intents and purposes, e-scooter share programs have only been on the radar for 2-3 years. Just like the automobile a century ago, there are certainly issues to be addressed, but with time, these troubles will likely diminish. When public demand for these machines are as high as they are, their parent companies will find solutions that make their use safer and more convenient for everyone.
What Is Reconnect Rochester Recommending?
As a leading advocate for smart, safe transportation and mobility in our city, Reconnect Rochester has made the following recommendations to City Council based on extensive research into e-scooter share data and media reports:
Use the first year as a pilot program to collect data on scooter usage, impact and public perception to allow for more informed decisions about the e-scooter share in Rochester moving forward. This will allow for flexibility and innovation that is tailored to the Rochester experience. The City of Portland’s Shared Electric Scooter Pilot Program provides an excellent example of what might be carried out in the City of Rochester. Portland discovered so many challenges during its 2018 pilot that it decided to conduct a second pilot year in 2019.
Consider capping the speed at 12mph to start. Beginning with a lower speed may give the inexperienced rider (and there will be a lot of them) time to adjust to this new mode of transportation and provide more reaction time for road hazards and traffic conditions. Given that most e-scooter trips are 1 to 1.5 miles, this lower speed won’t impact the trip time for the rider, but may help reduce the likelihood of injuries.
Make education a top priority. Offer free classes and online information on how to ride, where to ride and how to operate a scooter safely. In partnership with community organizations and the e-scooter vender, provide frequent training sessions at R-Centers and throughout the City to help encourage safe operation and road sharing.
Establish a set of best practices for e-scooter users and others who share the road to follow. This will help reduce tensions between the different modes of transportation as our community learns how e-scooters fit in. It will also help reduce the potential of crashes and injuries.
Establish guidelines with vendor to help reduce clutter on sidewalks and public rights of way. For example, consider tethering/locking features and designated parking infrastructure.
The key to a positive e-scooter share service in Rochester is a blend between an open-minded approach, a well-structured set of standards and expectations, and a willingness to explore new ideas to make the service better for everyone.
My Personal Experience
As an avid fan of alternative transportation, I already own an electric scooter, despite the fact that they are not legal in our state.
It’s fun to ride, even on a cold November day!
My experience with my e-scooter has been nothing but positive. At a maximum speed of approximately 17mph and a range of about 15 miles, my machine allows me to leave the car and bike behind in favor of a vehicle that gets me where I need to go without breaking a sweat. After hundreds of miles of e-scooter use, I can confidently consider myself an expert rider, and have never had an crash or fallen from the device. It is easy to operate, as long as I am alert and aware of my surroundings.
I will qualify that my positive opinion and safe navigation is likely due to the fact that I have biked nearly 10,000 miles over the last 5-7 years. This experience of traversing busy streets on two wheels, with balance, quick reaction time and precision likely eliminates much of the learning curve it might have taken a new e-scooter rider. With that said, I personally believe e-scooters are powerful, environmentally conscious and fun machines, and I welcome the day when e-scooters are legal across New York State.
In Conclusion
It’s not a matter of “if” electric scooters will hit the street of our city, it’s “when.” And when they do, there will likely be excitement and acceptance, mixed with growing pains and learning curves. These devices are environmentally friendly alternatives to short trips by car, as well as fun and interesting ways to see our great city. As Rochester continues to evolve, and young people continue to ask for more transportation options, our city is positioning itself to offer a greater network of mobility options. E-scooters are part of that vision, and while there will certainly be hurdles, there is tremendous potential for a positive result and a meaningful additive to Rochester’s ever-evolving fabric.
The community response was tremendous, and we thank all those who took the time to submit nominations! We received a total of 159 nominations for 31 locations in Monroe County.
The Steering Committee had a tough task to choose from so many quality submissions and deserving locations! A set of established judging criteria helped guide us through the selection process. Here we are, hard at work examining each and every submission:
So What’s the Good Word?
In the end, we selected the following locations for this year’s project:
N. Clinton Ave. in the El Camino neighborhood – WINNER
S. Clinton, S. Goodman & Henrietta St. – FINALIST
Monroe Ave. & Sutherland St. (Village of Pittsford) – FINALIST
The block of N. Clinton Ave. between Hoeltzer St. & Sullivan St. will be the project focus area
The North Clinton Ave. location presented the right mix of community support, evidence of safety concerns, and potential for a street re-design that would create real, transformative change for the community through our project. A Complete Streets Makeover will also be perfectly timed to dovetail with plans already underway for this corridor.
The Complete Streets Makeover will kick off with a community input session in June (facilitated by the Community Design Center) to hear from the residents of the El Camino neighborhood about their experiences and ideas. No one understands what it’s like to use our streets better than those who walk, bike, roll and ride along them everyday.
Last year’s community input session in the Beechwood neighborhood.
Based on feedback from this session, the complete streets design team at Stantec will draft conceptual design improvements of an improved streetscape. The design will be brought to life through a temporary on-street installation in September. We will rely on people power from the neighborhood community, and equipment from the Healthi Kids traffic calming library to lay down the temporary design on the street. Stay tuned for project updates as we go along!
What About the Finalists?
Our finalists won’t walk away empty-handed! The design team at Stantec will provide each of them with a conceptual drawing of street design improvements. The neighborhoods can use these illustrations as a launch pad for community discussion, and a tool to help advocate for changes that would make these streets safer for everyone
S. Clinton, S. Goodman & Henrietta St.Monroe Ave. & Sutherland St. (Village of Pittsford)
We are thrilled to welcome Jesse Peers, Cycling Coordinator and newest member of a growing staff team at Reconnect Rochester!
Jesse is hitting the ground running (or shall we say hitting the road biking) due to his already deep involvement in cycling advocacy and education. Learn more about his passion for the work in the message below.
Jesse can be reached by email at jesse@reconnectrochester.org, and will work out of our Hungerford building office (1115 East Main Street, Door 4) most afternoons. Next time you’re passing through the neighborhood, be sure to stop by The Hungerford and say hello!
Story By Arian Horbovetz. Arian is a Rochester resident and creator of The Urban Phoenix, a blog that discusses urban and community design and topics as our cities transition to a better future.
As I write this, the city of Rochester is passively preparing for yet another battle with a dreaded but familiar foe, lake effect snow. Winter boots and labored commutes will surely be the icebreaker (pun intended) conversation starters at the office water cooler today. But for the Urban Planner, as well as the casual observer, periods of light snow can be opportunities for great discovery.
In that time when the first whispers of a snow storm cover our streets and the plows are still dormant in their stalls, we navigate our vehicles on roadways by following the tracks left behind by the cars that recently came before us. To an Urban Planner, these tracks, especially with regard to their path through intersections, are of particular importance.
The ability to see the space that cars use (or rather don’t use) when traveling through an intersection by looking at these tracks through the snow gives us a golden opportunity to demonstrate how and where our streets can be narrowed. Think of it like an Urban Planner’s forensic blacklight, revealing the key unseen evidence of superfluous roadway.
These visual clues created by snow and tire tracks through our intersections are called Sneckdowns. While the name might conjure the image of a Dr. Seuss character, it is actually derived from the combination of “snow” and “neckdown,” which is a term for sidewalk additives and extensions that reduce traffic speeds and increase pedestrian access.
Photo courtesy of Jon Geeting
Photo courtesy of Jon Geeting
In 2014, urbanist Jon Geeting authored a Slate article in which he took simple photos of sneckdowns on Philadelphia streets. His efforts inspired walkability advocates around the world to do the same, but best of all, it led to real change in his own backyard.
Before Picture. Photo courtesy of Jon Geeting
Jon Geeting’s Sneckdown photo of this intersection paved the way for this concrete island which acts as a traffic calming measure and a pedestrian island for safer crossing. Photo courtesy of Jon Geeting
Clarence Eckerson’s famous STREETFILMS video shows some incredible examples of how overbuilt our streets really are. With a measuring device and some cold weather grit, Eckerson puts the power of sneckdowns right in front of the viewer, showing how snowbanks that accumulate on city streets can give us a clearer understanding of how to construct and reconstruct our streets going forward.
Sneckdowns also give the average citizen the ability to see where change can be enacted. It doesn’t take a traffic engineer to spot tracks in the snow, it takes a conscious observer who is genuinely concerned about safety and walkability in their environments.
Hey Rochester! Next time it snows, take to the streets and see if you can spot overbuilt space on our roads and intersections. It can be a fun, interesting and positive way to start the conversation about safer streets in your neighborhood, and may even lead to the change we want to see!
As we look back on 2018, we’re pretty darn proud of what we’ve accomplished together this year. The highlights below are just a snapshot of all the good work we’ve been able to do, thanks to the financial support of Reconnect members, the passionate volunteers that made our programs and initiatives run, and so many others that engaged in our work in countless ways. Thanks to each and every one of you.
If you haven’t yet made a membership donation, we hope you’ll consider doing so to help fuel our work in 2019! View the membership levels and gift options here. And don’t forget, we have a matching gift in effect from Jason Partyka for NEW members that join by Dec 31st!
Encouraging public engagement, lending support and giving input into local planning initiatives like Reimagine RTS system re-design, and the City of Rochester’s Comprehensive Access & Mobility Plan, Comprehensive Plan & Roc the Riverway.
Fighting for the transit dependent in our community through countless advocacy actions, like traveling to Albany on Transit Awareness Day, hosting a joint press conference with Our Streets Transit Coalition partners, and joining the New Yorkers for Better Public Transit campaign.
And after two years of conceiving and planning with a powerful coalition of partners, we helped launch the Drive 2B Better public awareness campaign to make our streets safer to walk and bike. Look out for a second phase of the campaign in 2019!
Congratulations to the Beechwood Neighborhood — Parsells Ave. & Greeley St. is the winner of our Complete Streets Makeover!
In May, we asked you to help identify theintersections and trouble-spots where you live, work and play that could be redesigned to make them safer for everyone.
We received over 90 nominations for roughly 39 City and 11 suburban locations. After a careful process to examine each and every submission, we selected the following locations:
Parsells Ave & Greeley St. – WINNER
Lake Ave. & Phelps St. / block encompassing Lakeview Tower – FINALIST
Monroe Ave., Canterbury Rd. & Dartmouth St. – FINALIST
We and ourteam of partners had a challenging task to choose from so many quality submissions and deserving locations! A set of established judging criteria helped guide us through the selection process. In the end, we decided that Parsells & Greeley presented the right mix of community support, unsatisfactory current design and feasibility for making a real change for the better through our project.
What Happens Now?
Our winner, Parsells & Greeley, gets a Complete Streets Makeover! The makeover kicked off last week with a community input session to hear from the residents of the Beechwood neighborhood. No one understands what it’s like to use our streets better than those who walk, bike, roll and ride along them everyday.
Based on feedback from this session, the complete streets design team at Stantec will draft conceptual design improvements of an improved streetscape that will be brought to life through an on-street experiment. That’s right. With the help of Healthi Kids and the City of Rochester, we are going to be testing the design improvements through some good old-fashioned tactical urbanism. Our goal is to demonstrate a successful project and move towards making the change permanent.
Our finalists won’t walk away empty-handed. The design team at Stantec will provide each of them with conceptual drawings of possible street design improvements. The neighborhoods can use these illustrations as a tool to help advocate for changes that would make these streets safer for everyone.
Monroe Ave., Canterbury Rd. & Dartmouth St.
Lake Ave. & Phelps St. / block encompassing Lakeview Tower
But, wait. There’s more…
Our filmmaker, Floating Home Films, is capturing all the action and will produce a short documentary film about the project to be featured at our Street Films event on Wednesday, November 14 at The Little Theatre. Save-the-date and stay tuned for more project updates!
As you are probably aware, RGRTA is exploring changes to the RTS fixed-route transit system in an effort to “better meet the evolving needs of the region.” The project, called Reimagine RTS, aims to improve transit service in Monroe County, including the City of Rochester. Over 11,000 individuals have participated in the process by sharing ideas with RTS via an online survey and many public meetings and the first draft was released last month.
After reviewing the draft and hearing input from many of you, Reconnect Rochester would like to formally share our assessment – including the parts we like, and a few things we’d like to see improved upon…Read more
If you recall, last fall RTS asked for the community’s help to reimagine our public transit system. Reconnect Rochester shared many of our recommendations and over 11,000 of you participated by sharing your own ideas with RTS via online survey or at one of countless public meetings. Well, today we’re dizzy with excitement as the first “Draft” proposal has finally been revealed…
As part of its new Comprehensive Plan, Rochester 2034, the City of Rochester is studying which major streets have the best potential for “transit supportive development” in Rochester. Transit supportive development encourages a mix of complementary activities and destinations (e.g., housing, work, shopping, services, and entertainment) along major streets and centers. This kind of development helps create compact, vibrant communities where it’s easier for people to walk, bike, and use public transit to get around. Read more
Every year in Rochester, hundreds of people are struck by vehicles while out walking and biking on our community streets. The top two factors in traffic fatalities in this country are alcohol and speed. And the percentage of crash deaths that involve speeding is higher on minor roads (like our neighborhood streets) than on highways and interstates.
How fast we drive on our community streets impacts that safety and quality of life for those who live, work, play and shop along those streets. Around the country, cities such as Cambridge, MA, New York City, and Seattle, are lowering their speed limits to make residential streets safer. Many are hoping Rochester will soon follow suit.
Join the effort led by HealthiKids to reduce the City speed limit from 30 to 25 mph on residential streets.
Attend this month’s City Council meeting and “Speak to Council” to show your support for safer streets: Tuesday, October 17th at 6:30PM
Can 5 or 10 mph really make that much of a difference?
Yes.
Here’s why:
The higher the speed, the greater the risk to a pedestrian or cyclist.
A person has more than a 90% chance of surviving if hit by a car traveling 20 mph. If that car is traveling 40 mph, there is about a 90% chance that person will die. Those risks increase if the pedestrian is a child or older adult. The human body can only handle so much.
Reduced speeds are good for pedestrians AND drivers.
Lower speeds allow drivers more time to notice things and react. If something is in the road 100 feet ahead of you when driving 40 mph, you will hit it going 36 mph. If you are traveling 25 mph, you can stop well within 100 feet.
At lower speeds, crashes are likely to be avoided altogether. And if they do occur, they will be far less severe.
Reduced speed limits on our residential streets alone aren’t the silver bullet, but are an important tool in the overall solution to safer streets. Done in concert with education, enforcement and design, the culture of how we use and share our streets can begin to change.
Let City Council know you want Rochester to be the next city to make streets safer by lowering the speed limit on residential streets!
Attend this month’s City Council meeting and “Speak to Council” to show your support for safer streets: Tuesday, October 17th at 6:30PM (Call before 5:30 PM or email before 2PM the day of the meeting to sign up to speak)
Last week RGRTA announced a plan to “Reimagine RTS.” Reconnect Rochester believes this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our community to get mass transportation right. We all have a stake in the success of our public transportation system and it is critical that RGRTA and its project team have access to thoughts and ideas from every demographic and every corner of our community. To help, we have compiled our ideas and recommendations, and we are asking you all to do the same.
But first, we need to understand how we got here.
Rochester’s public transportation network was originally designed to carry people between downtown and densely populated surrounding neighborhoods. As our residential population, commerce, and jobs spread outward with the adoption of the automobile, RGRTA attempted to follow this migration by extending service outward. With lower population densities in the suburbs, the stretched transit company found itself facing an impossible choice: expand service to reach fewer customers, or maintain its existing service area for a dwindling urban population.
After decades of attempting to do both, the quality of service in Monroe County has suffered. Those who rely on transit are underserved, and those who might choose to ride rather than drive do not. We hear complaints from riders about infrequent service, long trip times, perceived safety issues, and the need to walk great distances to reach their bus stop or final destination. Clearly, we need systemic changes to improve service and increase the viability of our public transit network.
RGRTA recognizes these issues and is now taking a bold step to design “a new transit system from the ground up.”
Our Top 5 Recommendations to Make Rochester Transit Great (again)
Reconnect Rochester has surveyed its members on how to improve Rochester’s public transit system to serve the greatest number of people. Our recommendations are prioritized below.
1. Make service more frequent and consistent.
Current routes and schedules are too complex and inconsistent. To build confidence and make people believe they will have a ride available when they need it:
Vehicles should run every 30 minutes or less throughout the entire system.
Vehicles should run every 15 minutes or less on key routes during peak hours.
Routes, schedules and frequencies should be consistent throughout the weekday and on weekends.
Vehicles should depart from the terminal on time.
Even spacing should be maintained between buses.
The number and placement of new bus stops should follow the recommendations outlined previously in the RTS Bus Stop Optimization Study (2014) to strike a balance between pedestrian accessibility and system performance.
Outlying routes or segments that cannot support 30 minute frequency (either with ridership or private sector funding) may need to be eliminated, or serious consideration should be given to servicing these areas by other means.
2. Make routes more direct.
Many routes currently have unnecessary turns and deviations, meaning most trips take much longer than they should. The current hub and spoke layout also makes it difficult to transfer between routes without going downtown. To improve efficiency and provide the fastest possible trip time:
Routes should be designed to take the most direct path between major destinations. Twists, turns and “zig-zags” should be eliminated.
Buses should not run into and through office complexes and strip mall parking lots. Instead, municipalities need to work to make sure transit access is provided by direct and convenient pedestrian access through a site to the edge of the public right of way.
It should be possible to switch (or transfer) between routes from any point in the network.
Adjacent routes should be placed within walking distance from each other and service staggered to make it easier for riders to switch from one bus to another on a nearby route.
Provisions should be made for other modes of travel at major bus stops or satellite hubs (i.e., ridesharing and bike share stations, safe and accessible pedestrian infrastructure, information/signage, etc.).
It should be possible to travel between the county’s four quadrants without transferring downtown.
Crosstown or orbital routes should be added near the perimeter of the city where radial routes diverge.
Work with other transit providers to make existing crosstown routes (e.g., U of R’s Orange Line) available for riders.
Work with the City and DOT to design streets that prioritize transit (as well as pedestrians and cyclists) over private motor vehicles.
Install curb extensions at transit stops (as opposed to curb cutouts) to eliminate time spent weaving in and out of traffic.
Optimize traffic signals to improve reliability by allowing buses to maintain a constant speed, and reducing time spent at red lights.
Utilize dedicated lanes to move buses more quickly through crowded streets.
3. Right-size the service.
Many routes receive high ridership near the core of the network, resulting in overcrowded, slow moving buses there and nearly empty buses for the remainder of the routes. To relieve overcrowding and improve service in high demand areas:
Some routes may require express and local access service.
Consider eliminating outlying routes or segments where demand is low.
Vehicles should be selected according to demand.
Heavily used routes within the core of Monroe County should be serviced by 40’ or larger vehicles, while lesser used routes could be serviced by vans or other systems altogether (i.e., ride-sharing).
Where necessary, transit vehicles should be outfitted to accommodate more bicycles.
4. Make transit accessible and easy to use.
In recent years RGRTA has added several systems and technologies that have made it easier and more enjoyable to use transit. These include the fully enclosed RTS Transit Center, fare kiosks, Tap & Go fare cards, digital signage, and a mobile trip planning app. The following recommendations would make RTS even easier to use and more welcoming to new customers:
Improve integration with other modes and transit systems.
Institute an integrated payment solution so that one “currency” can be used across a variety of transportation systems (i.e., one stored-value pass to pay for bus fare, rideshare, taxi, or bike share that could be replenished online or at a kiosk).
Include data from other transportation companies within the RTS mobile app.
Share data and synchronize service between other transit providers such as college bus systems, Amtrak, and intercity buses.
Work with municipal staff and land use boards in development review and site design. Employment locations, services, retail, and higher density residential development should occur within a half mile of transit corridors. The details of site design such as building placement and internal pedestrian circulation networks are critical in supporting transit.
A dynamic transit frequency map should be published for municipalities to evaluate whether transit is a realistic mobility option for a given development or not. There’s a huge difference in a site served by buses every 2 hours versus one served by buses every 20 minutes. Frequency information is not captured on a typical system route map (see for example these maps by Reconnect Rochester and this article by Jarrett Walker).
School routes (currently designated with an X) should not add complexity to the published schedules.
Provide basic amenities for transit riders at all bus stops.
Safe and accessible sidewalk connection from curb pick-up
Route map and information
Seating
Provide enhanced amenities for transit riders at heavily used stops and hubs.
Shelter
Trash receptacle
Bike rack
Heat
WiFi
Work with municipalities to enact a maintenance plan for all bus stops.
Trash pickup
Snow removal
Accountability
Provide riders with real-time information
Countdown clocks with real-time information should be installed at all major transit stops and hubs (i.e., URMC, colleges, Airport, Rochester Intermodal Station, Irondequoit Plaza, etc.).
Work with municipalities and property owners to display real-time information screens at highly visible locations such as schools, shopping centers, arenas, office and apartment buildings (i.e., TransitScreen).
Provide additional off-board and cash-free fare payment methods (i.e., kiosks at major transit stops where passengers can buy Tap & Go cards, mobile ticketing via the RTS app or a 3rd party app such as Token Transit, etc.).
Explore ways to allow boarding at both front and rear doors.
5. Stay competitive through innovation.
A business succeeds by staying ahead of the competition. Beyond the recommendations outlined in sections 1-4, it will be imperative for RTS to:
Continually monitor customer needs and local market conditions in order to identify areas for improvement, industry trends and opportunities to attract new customers.
Offer classes or seminars on “how to ride the bus.” Many people are reluctant to try the bus, in part, because they are unfamiliar with it.
Have a bike rack mock-up device so people can practice loading a bike into the rack without the pressure of a bus full of people watching.
Expand offerings by studying the feasibility of new systems and upgrades such as:
Fixed guideway and/or bus rapid transit on core routes
Smaller self-driving vehicles for local or on-demand service
Work with the City and County to manage land use in a way that complements service patterns. Future service can then be planned based on land use decisions.
Work with municipalities, key neighborhood groups, and large employers to establish Transportation Demand Management entities and co-promote public transit as a solution to congestion and costly parking.
Step up marketing efforts and always maintain a fresh image reflecting the unique selling points of RTS.
Develop example language/assistance for municipalities, event planners, retailers, employers etc. that highlight the ability to use transit to access the event. Too often events or meeting notices provide parking information without information about public transit. Rochester International Jazz Festival does a good job of this.
Share Your Suggestions
We hope our suggestions will give you a framework from which to craft your own thoughts for RTS. Please feel free to steal our list straight away. Or if you have ideas not mentioned above, we’d love to hear them in the comments section below.
We also urge you to attend the first public meeting for this project on October 25th from 6:00-7:30PM at the Brockport Metro Center. And don’t forget to visit www.myRTS.com/reimagine to submit your comments and stay updated on this important project over the next 12 months.
Moments ago RGRTA announced plans to study sweeping changes to the RTS (Monroe County) transit system. The effort is being called Reimagine RTS and the goal is to develop a set of recommendations to address the community’s mobility needs, increase transit ridership, and position RTS for long-term financial sustainability.
Reconnect Rochester surveyed all candidates for Rochester’s Mayor and City Council to learn where they stand on issues related to transportation and mobility.
Questions were designed to give the candidates the opportunity to share their opinions, ideas and vision for a well-connected and accessible community. Surveys were sent to all campaign teams on August 2. We did our best to make contact with all of the candidates. After several follow up attempts, the responses we have received are posted below.
We hope this information will help you make an informed decision when you head to the polls this November – and/or next Tuesday (9/12) for the Democratic primary. Don’t want to wait until election day? Take our Voter Poll right now (just for fun).
Click on the candidate names below to read their full, unedited responses. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order…
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
Our current public transit system is not set up to address the needs of our residents, many of whom are forced to work and shop in the suburbs. We need a network that better connects people to jobs and services. We need a network with various hubs. We need a network that accommodates pedestrians and cyclists. We need a network enjoyed by all.
We must introduce planning and transit into discussions about awarding incentives to companies relocating or expanding. We need a mayor who will advocate for locating jobs and services in the city, near transit lines and population centers.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
Our greatest challenge is that we have a community that prioritizes the automobile. This has had enormous economic, social and environmental costs.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
We must fight for Rochester’s share of transportation funding from the state and federal government. We must prioritize pedestrians and cyclists when building infrastructure.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? And, what steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
In addition to building infrastructure, the city has to advocate to locate jobs in the city, on transit lines and near where people live.
The city should encourage the University of Rochester, Wegmans and other employers to give workers free bus passes. By adding infrastructure, such as protected bike lanes, more people will feel safe to ride bicycles.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
I don’t think downtown has a parking problem. It has a walking problem. People think nothing of parking at Eastview Mall and walking the equivalent of a half mile to get to a store. We need a mental reset about what it means to visit a downtown. That said, it’s worth exploring a downtown circular to transport people among venues and garages.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
Traffic deaths are not “accidents.” They’re preventable tragedies. They’re unacceptable. They’re not inevitable. That’s how the city will treat fatal and serious injury crashes under Vision Zero Rochester. The first Vision Zero program started in Sweden in the late 1990s. Now there are Vision Zero programs in many cities. The aim of Vision Zero is to have zero deaths and serious injuries in road traffic. Vision Zero takes a multi-disciplinary approach to traffic safety. It recognizes that people make mistakes. Instead of blaming victims, we will improve the system to mitigate human error. Using education, enforcement, design, technology and policies, we can make our streets safe for everyone – while not impeding mobility.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
Reducing reliance on cars makes for a healthier, more equitable city.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
See above.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
Adding bike infrastructure promotes activity, social equity, cleaner air and vibrant street life.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
Road diets slow traffic, making us safer, and they improve property values and walkability. East Main Street desperately needs a road diet.
What steps (if any) do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
As noted above, we should encourage employers to spring for bus passes. We can also ask them to include facilities for bikes and provide incentives for carpooling.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
Rochester’s transportation network must address the needs of all of our citizens with an eye toward dramatically reducing carbon emissions (see my environmental platform, “Green Rochester Inside and Out,” available on www.sheppardformayor.com). My vision for the City is that all of our residents will have inexpensive and accessible choices for getting where they need to go, for work and play.
We are fortunate to have a community of smart, creative and engaged citizens who are passionate about this issue, the members of Reconnect Rochester among them. Within the first six months of taking office, I will hold a Transportation Roundtable to bring stakeholders together, including RR, RGRTA, Genesee Transportation Council, residents, business owners, transportation experts and others to evaluate our current transport network, review the plans that are in the works, and determine an action plan for moving forward. I don’t have all the answers but there are people right here in this community who have a lot of expertise and interest and are willing to share it.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
An aging infrastructure and high poverty. We have significant capital needs that are difficult to address when our tax base is shrinking, which often forces us to prioritize emergency repairs. That being said, other communities have gotten creative with their financing of transportation projects and aggressive with their State and federal funding requests, and we can too.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
The City needs to play a leadership role as transportation directly impacts the quality of life of our residents and the long-term environmental health of our community. The City in particular must demand equity in regional transportation planning efforts, as our residents are often the least served and most in need. We must ensure our residents are at the table, whether they want to put roads on a ‘diet’ and increase bike lanes, or increased bus service and updated shelters. We need to ensure that our residents are empowered and actively involved in solving Rochester’s transportation needs.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? And, what steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
We need to do a better job of working with major employers and the business community to identify the current and future needs of their employees. They know as well as we do the challenges their employees face in getting to work on time and on budget; employees who can get to work easily are more likely to show up and stay employed. Once we have a more thorough understanding of what our current and future needs are, we can plan accordingly, working with RTS, and using van pools, car sharing and bike sharing alternatives.
The City can be an active leader in promoting alternative modes of transportation through events such as “Bike to Work” days, free public transportation periods, and “Celebrity Van Pools,” as has been done in other communities. In promoting our own special events, information can be shared on the availability of bike sharing stations, bus and circulator routes, and openly encouraging attendees to leave their cars at home. Often the biggest barrier to using alternative transportation is the fear of the unknown – once people know others are using different options, and they try them for themselves, they become our most regular and vocal users!
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
Our downtown should be a place where people feel comfortable, and indeed enjoy, walking around. When they do, it will not be a problem for them to park farther away and walk; take the bus downtown and walk from a stop; or bicycle around as much as possible. Creating any new parking lots or garages will be a last resort as we promote alternative transportation and reduce our dependence on parking downtown.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
Parking enforcement should be prioritized as a quality of life issue. It must be enforced fairly, appropriately, and consistently.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
It just makes sense as downtown continues to grow.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
We need to make a serious commitment to neighborhood safety and this is one important way to do it.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
We need to encourage bicycling as a viable transportation alternative and make sure cyclists are safe.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
It will both improve safety and encourage alternative forms of transportation. We need to prioritize our major corridors using safety data.
What steps (if any) do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
We should pursue incentives for employees who use alternative forms of transportation – “dress down” days; restaurant coupons; Mayoral recognition, etc.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
Thank you for all of the good work that you do keeping transportation issues at the forefront and supporting neighborhood safety!
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
Fewer cars, more public transportation, cleaner streets during winter months and pothole elimination.
Ride sharing, working with RTS to committ busses to larger areas with more work accomodating schedules, making sure street plows clear streets curb to curb, and patching potholes during winter months and creating a rotating maintenance schedule of repair during spring and summer months.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
The extensive traffic coming in and going out of Rochester from suburban neighborhoods, excessive speeds on neighborhood streets and the excessive use of school buses during peak travel hours.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
Advocating in Albany for a change in speed limits for neighborhood streets and appropriating enough funding to improve and maintain city streets.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? And, what steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
Working with RTS to committ to better scheduling of times and routes.
Providing incentives for ride sharing and the use of public transportation.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
Increasing public transportation and ride sharing opportunities will decrease the need for downtown parking.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
Traffic enforcement is key to reducing accidents and creating safer neighborhoods. This is a top priority.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
No.
Currently our population would not support these venues.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
This will decrease accidents and insure the safety of neighborhood children.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
Bicycle traffic has increased over the years and with the current cooperation with Zagster, bicycle lane expansion is a necessity.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
Rochester has undergone significant changes in road design that have impeded the effective and efficient travel of citizens and visitors. I believe that a more effective and efficient system needs to be considered in order to improve the safety of our citizens and reduce traffic accidents and tie-ups.
That would depend on the street and the traffic conditions. Both would be considerations.
What steps (if any) do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
Creating ride sharing opportunities and benefits for individuals who carpool and use public transportation. Working with the UofR, one of Rochester’s largest employers and RTA to create a more employee friendly public transportation schedules along with incentives such as reduced bus passes for city residents and Park&Rides for suburban residents.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
We can also reduce the number of school buses by re-instituting neighborhood schools which would reduce traffic congestion and save money.
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
I envision a Rochester that is walkable and bikeable. A city with robust usage of the sharing economy. A city with an accessible public transportation network. I envision a city where single-occupancy car trips are all but unnecessary. And I envision a city that is ahead of the times in preparing its infrastructure for green – and eventually driverless – vehicles. I want our streets to be safe and accessible for not just cars but bikes, pedestrians and public transit, something we are well on the way to accomplishing with our “complete streets” policy.
We are well on our way. As we reinvent our city, we are doing so with the future in mind. Our complete streets policy means that whenever we build or rebuild a road, it must be accessible not just for cars but for pedestrians, bikes and public transit. We are constantly improving our city for cyclists by creating more miles of bike lanes, a bicycle boulevard network, and bicycle safety measures in all corners of our city. We brought ride sharing and bike sharing to Rochester, and are working to raise awareness about the benefits of green vehicles. We created a vanpool program to make it easier for citizens to reach job sites not on the bus line.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
As our city and our economy builds and improves, our transportation options must keep pace. My administration is working actively with RGRTA and our community partners to review our bus routes to make sure they meet the needs of our citizens.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
We must lead the way, and bring all community partners to the table. We must ensure that our transportation network works for everyone, and decrease our dependence on cars.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? And, what steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
We created a vanpool program to help our citizens access jobs in areas underserved by public transportation. We are also working with RGRTA to identify these underserved areas, and increase service. Our bike sharing program has improved accessibility for hundreds of residents, as does ride sharing.
The Downtown Transit Center was a crucial step toward this goal, as it made taking the bus easier and sheltered from Rochester’s winters. We are also seeing more residents use ride sharing and bike sharing to get to their destinations. We can encourage bike commuting by continuing to build bike lanes and installing safety measures to protect our citizens.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
We want to be a “park once” city, meaning that residents, workers and visitors only need to park once Downtown, then be able to walk, bike or take public transit to their destinations.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
Parking enforcement is necessary to both support businesses, and keep the streets safe for all. No one likes getting a parking ticket, but by enforcing our parking laws, we can ensure a more vibrant and active city.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
We must continue to look at all options.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
This is something that is already well underway. We have been putting many of our streets on a “road diet”, replacing traffic lanes with bike lanes, street parking, and traffic calming measures. We are exploring a lower speed limit.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
Because we love bikes! (And want to keep our growing number of cyclists safe.)
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
We are building a city that is less reliant on cars, so we must adjust our streetscapes to ensure the safety of our cyclists and pedestrians. Exchange, South and Mount Hope are just three examples of streets that we have improved, with many more to come.
All of the above.
What steps (if any) do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
The bike sharing program was a huge step in this direction, as was the Downtown transit center. We will continue to take measures to make Downtown safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
The filling in of the Inner Loop plays an important role in this as well. When complete, the Inner Loop East site will connect our eastern neighborhoods to Downtown, and we hope to do the same with the northern section of the Inner Loop.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
I would just like to thank Reconnect Rochester for all they do in raising awareness, and helping us prepare our city for the next generation.
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
A comprehensive public transportation system which incorporates bus, light rail and active transportation.
It is important for the city to work with all the elected officials to try to obtain federal funding to start building this comprehensive system. In particular we need to start securing funding to start designing and building an effective light rail system which can provide the backbone for this system.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
Rochester, though densely populated is surrounded by a suburban zone which was built to resist public transportation. Further the dispersion of retail has further complicated the development of comprehensive public transportation.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
Due to the way the federal government funds public transportation the city will need to take the lead on any attempt to obtain additional transportation money to help transform our system.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? And, what steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
The fact that RGRTA refuses to provide routes to large employers who do not pay for additional coverage is absurd. They to become more flexible with perhaps some smaller vehicles and more specialized routes. If RGRTA can not be changed than the city needs to recover funding and provide the needed services.
Improve public transportation.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
The solution is to increase public transportation and one of the way to do this is to create more attractive transportation options like light rail. This will help decrease the need for parking but in the long run this problem will solve itself as increasing fuel costs will decrease the need for parking.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
Though traffic enforcement is important is should be a low priority compared to other public safety issues.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
First it would decrease congestion and parking problems downtown and would help familiarize people with public transit.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
Decreasing the vehicle speed would help make streets safer for youth in our city and decrease active transportation accidents.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
Bicycling is an ever increasing part of the transportation network and should be encourage when ever possible.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
It is time that we stopped favoring cars in our transportation network and started to put public safety about driver convenience.
I do like providing bike lanes both in the road and adjacent to the sidewalk.
What steps (if any) do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
Perhaps the best way to do this is the encourage more employees to live in the city with homeowner incentives and tax credits. Further the health care options can use active transportation incentives to encourage other means of transportation other than cars.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
I would like our network to actually WORK for the residents of the City of Rochester! Currently, the bus system is very time-consuming, and not convenient for riders. More folks would use public transportation if it made logistical sense.
I would like to collaborate with the RTS bus company and a large and varied sample of its regular riders. I would arrange informative brain-storming sessions to help iron out the trouble spots in the current system. Once such sessions have been held, I would like to work on the trouble spots, and find solutions to those challenges. The people who ride the bus each day know where the problems are, and will most likely be able to offer astute suggestions.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
I believe the greatest challenges to Rochester’s transportation stem from the sprawl that was allowed to occur decades ago. The majority of jobs are now located in our county’s suburbs, rather than in the heart of our county, also known as Rochester’s Center City. Because of the very large area that needs to be covered in Monroe County, our public transportation needs are not being met by the current system. The spoke and wheel design is not efficient for the average traveler’s daily needs.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
I see our City government supporting various transportation methods, to build a system that works for the people of the City of Rochester. From carpooling, to rerouting and rescheduling the RTS buses, I believe that the public transportation *could* be a million times better than it is right now. I also know that this will not happen unless the people who actually ride the buses are an integral part of the planning process.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
I would like the City to take a good look at the many great suggestions that we came up with on the Rochester 4.0 Planning Committees. There were many meetings held across the city, and ours in the NW District touched on public transportation as an area that needed improvement. We also noted the under-use of our city’s waterways. We made the suggestion to create a water taxi service (weather permitting, of course), as well as installing a light-rail system that could make access to and from Charlotte faster (for example), and be able to connect to a bus route, or another trolley line(s), that would serve more areas across our county. These, in partnership with carpool lanes on larger roadways, and offering free parking to carpool vehicles in the city might help reduce our city’s carbon footprint. Carpooling would be a great way to help get city residents to suburban job locations. As a council member, I will also do my best to try to get as many businesses to relocate to our inner city, as this would bring the jobs back to the people who need them the most. I especially want to see Rochester be a leader in the clean energy and renewable resource field, so I want to see manufacturing of solar panels and wind turbines (and their components) to be made in the city by city residents, and placed on city homes to help city homeowners with energy costs. Then, to help finance the whole program/initiative, the city can sell the extra energy generated to other municipalities, and can sell the panels and turbines, as we could be a world leader in this global economy.
I believe that the current bus system is inefficient, and this is a key reason most people do not leave their cars at home. It should not take two hours to go somewhere that is 20 minutes away. We need a better route for buses to travel, as well as increasing the frequency of the bus runs. When I visit NYC, the bus stop showed a schedule and route, and basically the time was listed as, “The bus will be here shortly.”, and it was! I don’t think we waited five minutes. Now, I completely understand that Rochester does not have the same dense population that NYC has, but our residents deserve to have that type of quality service. If you miss a bus after work in the evening, you are going to wait about an hour for the next bus. That is just not feasible for families and students, or for anyone. We need to get where we are going, and not be waiting for a ride everywhere. That is the main reason people drive their cars, rather than take the bus. There should also be ADA compliant public restrooms available across the city, and more bus stops along the routes rather than removing stop locations. There should also be simple shelters and benches available at bus stops. These could be paid for via sponsorships and advertising opportunities. The top 20 people who run the bus company, based upon salary rate, should use their own service. If they aren’t doing so, the question to ask is “Why not?” as the residents of the City of Rochester and the rest of Monroe County deserve to be treated with the same level of respect that they would expect to receive.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
I would like the downtown parking to be free, as the fee to park is prohibitive and unwelcoming to customers of our local businesses. Also, as a part-time worker when I was in college, paying to park a vehicle downtown was a larger percentage of my paycheck than I really could afford to pay. This doesn’t help hard-working people get out of poverty. I would like to see underground parking garages utilized, so that we can conserve our valuable green spaces, while using all space efficiently. I think that garages are better than parking lots, as a lot is taking up an area of space that could be used for social interactions with people, and with small businesses to support our local economy. A garage can be built onto a building, and could also have an ecological component, where solar panels and wind turbines could be mounted onto them, as well as green plants/trees could be grown on the side, to help improve the air quality around the building.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
Unfortunately, from my perspective and experience, I believe the City should prioritize traffic enforcement lower on the scale of urgency. The other issues facing the City of Rochester are on a life and death scale, the highest being the insidious drug use epidemic, and the violence that destroys our neighbors’ quality of life. I certainly encourage everyone to follow the current traffic laws, and to be mindful and courteous to others using our roadways. If these road rules were followed, our streets would be safer for all travelers, and our police could be deployed to more serious and timely matters, like getting guns and drugs off our streets and making better community connections between officers and city residents.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
I absolutely support studying these options! If public transportation was faster and convenient, most people would use it willingly, rather than out of necessity. These options could also bring more jobs to our city residents, which would lift more people out of poverty. The environmental benefits of using public transportation more often would also help our overall ecological health.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
No.
I do not currently support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, as 25 mph speed limits do not seem reasonable. I believe the current 30 mph limit suits our community. However, as a councilmember, I would ask my constituents what they want, and would support their desire. If a majority of our city residents wanted this “Vision Zero” style, then I would help create legislation to make it become a reality. My own personal opinion would not override the needs of the people I am elected to serve. Other traffic calming practices and policies would be investigated, and again, brought to the people to make the decision, as they would be directly affected by these changes. In some cases, narrowing of roads, or using round-abouts would make perfect sense, and be a benefit to specific areas; in others, not so much. Overall, I encourage educating the public on the current traffic laws and rules, and would expect people to take personal responsibility for their actions. When I rode my bike, I rode with traffic, near the curb, wearing a helmet and reflective clothing with lights on my wheels. I did not pull out into traffic from between two vehicles, or ride on the wrong side of the road. When committing these acts, people are putting their personal safety in jeopardy, as well as creating a hazard for others who are also using the road. Common sense and education is the key to saving lives.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
No.
I feel that there are many streets that are simply too narrow to add a bike lane, and keep the vehicle traffic moving safely. I have seen bike lanes that disappear, and bicyclists be put in danger as cars narrowly miss them. On larger, main thoroughfares, yes, bike lanes make sense, and are a wise investment, such as on Lake Avenue, where the bike lane is up next to the sidewalk, and well out of the way of motorized traffic.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
I do support road changes that are making travel safer for people in our City, but not across the board. I believe we need to act purposefully, and take care not to change something drastically that only needs a minor alteration.
I think the people of Rochester would be the perfect resource and sounding board for this question. From my experience, there are locations where crossing Monroe Avenue, Genesee Street, Lyell Avenue, and East and West Ridge Roads is harrowing, and these should be re-evaluated. In some cases, traffic lights might be the best solution, in others, stop signs. In others still, speed bumps or dips might be the best solution. Some other locations might benefit from a pedestrian island, or from a better timed crossing light. Each location has specific challenges, and a carefully thought out plan will make our city more inviting for all.
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
I will lead by example, as I intend to carpool to City Hall with Andrew Hollister (Republican candidate), as he is a neighbor who is also running for a seat on our City Council! For other downtown employees, I would think that offering free parking for carpool vehicles would make a huge difference to many employees in our downtown area. Again, I would like the RTS buses to have more effective and efficient routes, and to run with greater frequency. I would also like shuttle services enlisted, as that might entice more people to use the main forms of transportation, while getting around quickly between established bus locations/different routes. I would also offer enclosed bike parking, and not charge for these spaces. The bike locker I used when I worked downtown was secure, but it should not have cost the rate that it did, as the maintenance of a locker for a bicycle is not commensurate with the amount being charged. There also weren’t enough of them, at the time, and that didn’t encourage people to use that method of transportation as an option.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
As a council member, I will always keep the focus on what is in the best interests of the residents of the City of Rochester. I will encourage the study of different options and new ideas, and not dismiss out of hand any serious proposals to improve citizens’ quality of life.
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
My vision for Rochester’s transportation network really needs to take a look at transportation design. This would require a neighborhood study to determine the walk, bike, and public transportation patterns in each quadrant. For example, some areas of our city biking is used as a major means of transportation and delivery. I have seen and have been part of moving large objects about town using shopping carts, balancing beams on the handle bars, and ghost riding another bike while pulling a trash toter or lawnmower. Let’s observe our streets. Talk to those we see riding and walking in our neighborhoods and ask what/how do you use transportation? What would help you to better achieve your day-to-day goals using Rochester’s transportation network? With these questions, we can help to build a network that fits and grows with its community.
I will work with our City Planners, Urban design Centers, area colleges to assist in mobilizing the community members in developing ride, bike, and walking charrettes.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
Well, how about supporting entrepreneurs and local businesses along transportation routes and the smaller (at first) neighborhood businesses that can hire small numbers from the area within walking distance.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
A network that includes buses, bikes, ride sharing that breaks down barriers so that everyone in the community can have the opportunity for prosperity.
Regularly working with like minded community organizations like reconnect Rochester and ensuring that our public transportation system is responsive and innovative. I will also advocate policies that encourage whenever possible that pedestrian zones get the highest priority.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
Buses that don’t route to where jobs often are in the far flung suburbs. This is a challenge for poor working families.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
The city has the ability to advocate and push for pedestrian friendly policies and advocate for things like car sharing, bike sharing and zoning policies that put an emphasis on pedestrian friendly streets.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
Van pooling and working to attract jobs that are in neighborhoods, so people can walk when possible. We also need to ensure public transit is accessible to everyone.
We need more public awareness about the benefits. We also need to make it fun in encouraging different modes of ransportation.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
Broadly we need to make it possible for people not to have to drive and park downtown. We need more options for a shuttle that travels downtown from areas where people can leave there car. The long term solution is a more robust transit system that can provide timely service to all areas.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
Traffic enforcement should be a major priority.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
This will cut down on downtown congestion, parking in particular. This will also encourage exploring downtown and can attract new businesses.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
This will make Rochester more pedestrian friendly.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
Bikes are a great form of transportation and promotes good health.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
This will help pedestrians.
East Main St., North Goodman, West Main St.
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
Rewards for using other forms of transportation.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
I envision a #HealthyRochester, where kids can play actively, families can eat healthy, and anyone can get from here to there with diverse transportation options. We must have active, affordable, and convenient transportation options.
I will push for an Active Transportation Council/Committee, with representatives from many key local organizations: Reconnect Rochester, Conkey Cruisers, Rochester Cycling Alliance, HealthiKids, and more. This political body will liaise with City Council to develop effective legislation to improve our transportation system. In addition, I would recommend that the City hires someone dedicated to active transportation.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
I see two main challenges. First, our main transportation system (RGRTA) is controlled by the County, and they do not spend adequate resources in the City. Second, Rochester is neither a particularly bikeable or walkable city. We need to make some significant improvements in our bicycling infrastructure, and increase the walkability of our streets.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
Addressing the above challenges will require two different strategies. First, we must begin to elect officials that can bridge the relationship between City and County. RGRTA will continue to be run by the County for the foreseeable future, but we can continue to improve the working relationship between RGRTA and the people of Rochester that depend on public transit. Second, we can begin to build the right infrastructure in City Hall to improve our transportation infrastructure. I would start by advocating for a full-time active transportation specialist in City Hall, and an Active Transportation Committee/Council.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
My website (mitchgruber.com) includes a lot of information about Middle Skills job training. I believe that we have available jobs in our community, but we must be able to train people for those jobs. As part of that process, we must ensure that major employers are on the RGRTA bus line and encourage biking to work. We have done this at Foodlink, where many employees do not own cars. In addition, when possible employers should provide bus passes to workers instead of parking passes.
This city is clearly interested in biking, as evidenced by the apparent success of Zagster in the last month. We must invest in better biking infrastructure (bike lanes and blvds). I’d like to create a bike “highway” like in bike-friendly cities like Portland and Minneapolis. In addition, we must continue to work with RGRTA to make this a more viable form of transportation for people with cars by creating new, strategic routes.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
We need to stop investing in surface-level parking, and encourage the use of public/active transportation. Beyond that, I strongly believe that we need to have data and strategy to create a vision for parking downtown. That’s why I would use my voice as a councilmember to encourage the hiring of a full-time active transportation specialist and the creation of an Active Transportation Committee/Council.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
There needs to be a strategy when it comes to traffic enforcement. Currently, it feels like different authorities prioritize traffic enforcement in very different ways. We need to make sure that as a City and County, we understand the purpose and goals of traffic enforcement. Again, this is an opportunity for a Transportation Committee/Council.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
These are innovative solutions that must be addressed by City Hall.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
I support data-driven approaches that show evidence of creating safer roads and more sustainable transportation usages. I would want any legislation about transportation in Rochester to be data-driven and evidence-based.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
This is a critical form of transportation, and we need to do a lot of work to improve our bikability. I think this issue is significant in low-income communities, like where I live. Many people use bicycles to get to work and otherwise, but there are insufficient lanes in these communities.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
We need innovative, data-driven approaches to transportation planning.
I don’t have one particular version of the road diet that I am interested in, because I am not an active transportation specialist. I would listen to transportation specialists, and encourage the creation of a Committee/Council to help develop this type of legislation.
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
Improving commuter bus routes and bike lanes, and incentivizing the use of public/active transportation. This shouldn’t be difficult with City employees, since parking near City Hall is incredibly difficult.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
I don’t have all the answers to these questions, because I am not a transportation specialist. However, I will be the type of legislators that Reconnect Rochester wants. I have a track record of innovation at Foodlink, and I am data-driven as evidenced by my PhD in urban history. Most importantly, I know how to ask the right questions of the right people; that is why most of my answers alluded to the creation of an Active Transportation Committee/Council, which would include representation from Reconnect Rochester.
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
I have always like railways. i would like to see a rail system.
I think we should look at transportation in international city’s as they seem to have more experience.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
Having people willing to think out of the box and do something different.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
I think Rochester is tied to RTS and will not makes changes because of thier financial interest.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
The City can focus on added manufacturing business to neighborhoods which help them become walk able neighborhoods.
The city should create a rail system where people feel safe and spend less time in than if they had to drive a car.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
I think they should make parcel 5 green space .
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
I think city should focus on issues or intersection communities say are not safe because of accidents.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
An order to stop my from driving we need other transportation than bus, taxi, lift, and uber.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
I have seen speed bumps work in my neighborhood.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
No.
I have seen people almost hit by cars.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
If its for safety and saves lives it makes sense. Speed bumps seem to work well.
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
I would gives Bus tokens to employees.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
Rochester needs to adapt our transportation network to meet the needs of its citizens. Many millennials are embracing public transportation over cars. Empty nesters moving into the city are also looking for transportation options that do not involve cars. Buses are the principal public transit method for many city residents and will remain that way for the foreseeable future. However, Rochester should consider bringing back street cars as another public transportation method. Bus lines can be started and stopped at will and thus can be a barrier to development. Having dedicated tracks serve a neighborhood shows a permanent commitment to that neighborhood and increases the chances that development will take place. Look no further than Washington, DC for a real example of how “dedicated tracks” can spur development. The DC metro system has spurred growth near each metro stop. They are also historical and can add to the visual landscape of Rochester. We also need to continue adding bike lanes to our streets, and maintain the bike sharing program.
The city could not solely fund a street car line. We would need help from the state and federal government. Buffalo received funding to build their metro system so there is no reason why Rochester could not receive state and federal funds to build a street car network. As for the bike lanes, I would work with city planners and group such as Reconnect Rochester to ensure that we choose the right streets to make dedicated bike lanes.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
Rochester’s greatest challenge is our sheer size. It can be difficult to get from one side of the city to the other without a car. Our bus system is also not particularly well-designed to move people around the city. It is also hard to convince people to give up their car, especially when they are limited public alternatives.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
City Council and the mayor’s office must reach out to the community to see what the residents are looking for in a transportation system. The city should also consult stakeholder groups such as Reconnect Rochester. Based on this input, a transportation plan should be created and carried out.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
The new bike-sharing program is great. It would be great to see this program expanded beyond where they are currently located. We have a bus system that is not effective at moving people around the city. Me must make RTS buses more usable for city residents.
We need bus routes that make sense. For instance, my wife happily took the 52 bus from our neighborhood to her place of work (Strong Memorial Hospital). This bus route was abandoned after less than a year. The City can also incentivize more ride-sharing. Lastly, the City can continue to create more and safer bicycle routes.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
Research has shown that as much as 30% of downtown traffic in some cities can be attributed to people looking for cheaper street parking. To combat this, some cities have implemented Right-pricing parking. According to Donald Shoup: “The right prices are the lowest prices that will leave one or two open spaces on each block, so there will be no parking shortages. Prices will balance the demand and supply for on-street parking spaces.” The city could also implement a “downtown circulator” to move people around downtown while alleviating the need for parking. Long term, creating a street car line that also serves downtown Rochester could encourage people to leave their car at home and take public transit instead.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
This is a tough question to answer (nice job!). While the easy answer is “of course we should prioritize traffic enforcement,” I understand that it is not that simple. The police force is stretched thin. When I was President of the ABC Streets Neighborhood, I worked with the police department to increase enforcement of the stop sign at Park and Colby (many cars weren’t stopping for the 4-way stop sign). The police increased the patrols and did what they could, but the reality is that they often had more pressing issues to handle and couldn’t be there was much as the neighborhood wanted. The city should look into creating a traffic enforcement division that could be a “wing” of the police department and have them focus on traffic enforcement.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
I think these are all great ideas. New Orleans and San Francisco utilize street cars/cable cars. These are not only practical ways of public transit but they also add to the downtown landscape. Rochester needs think “beyond the bus” for other methods of public transit that could work with a bus system.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
As the father of two young children, I cannot emphasize enough the need to lower the city speed-limit. On my street, which has a large number of children and dogs, it is discouraging to watch cars speed down our street. Speed bumps were added a few years ago and that has helped somewhat, but 30 mph is still too fast for our residential streets.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
It would encourage more residents to use their bicycles and also make bike riding safer by giving bicyclists their own dedicated lane to ride in.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
It is a common sense approach that doesn’t cost much money to implement and helps reduce accidents and save lives.
There was a lot of complaining when East Ave was reduced to two lanes (from four) several years ago but traffic runs smoothly and there is now room for bikes and dedicated left hand turn lanes for cars. I would like to see more of this type of change on other thoroughfare streets in the city where feasible.
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
Again, my wife lives and works in the city. Her bus route was dismantled less than a year after it began. The bus was packed during the AM and PM commutes but was mostly empty during the other times. Many residents who took the bus asked RTS to make the 52 bus a “commuter bus” providing service only during rush hour times but RTS refused and discontinued the route. We need much smarter bus routes for residents who also work in the city. We also need to work with employers to further incentivize ride-sharing.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
For my final comment, I would like to address driverless cars. This is not abstract idea. Some carmakers — Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Volvo, Toyota are all predicting fully driverless cars by 2020-2021. I would like Rochester to be a leader in this area. We need to begin to envision how our cities will change with this new technology, we must imagine and foster this new landscape.
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
It’s tragic that a lack of affordable transportation options make it difficult for so many Rochesterians to find or keep a job. We’re a city where personal vehicle ownership has become essential for career success. Many voters have shared with me that our bus network fails to meet the needs of everyday commuters. But it does not have to be that way. By implementing new technology, our bus system can get the user data, route responsiveness, and convenience that modern consumers demand. We must embrace a plethora of affordable transportation options from bicycle networks to innovative ride sharing technology on a mass transit scale
We need to start with reforming our archaic city code in a number of areas to foster transportation innovation, smart development, and business growth. First, we must remove barriers to innovation that prevent transportation entrepreneurs from expanding and experimenting with ride sharing technology on a larger scale. City council must encourage RTS to embrace this technology as well and use the data collected to improve routes and meet consumer needs. Second, we can reform our zoning laws to allow for more mixed use development in neighborhoods. This will encourage the growth of office space, restaurants, retail, and other business opportunities in walkable settings. Third, removing burdensome requirements will encourage businesses to take advantage of mixed use development opportunities in the city, further incentivizing people to use alternative transportation options to access goods and services in their neighborhood.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
Decades of transportation policy at the federal, state, and local level have made owning a car essential for economic opportunity. We’ve invested billions in infrastructure that ensures this mode of transit. It will take a very long time to change that. In addition to this, public transportation has often been viewed as a service strictly for poor people (I hear this constantly). Public transportation must be built, viewed, and developed as a viable alternative to automobile transportation by people of all walks of life. It needs to be built with the goal of bringing people to and from work.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
Removing barriers to transportation innovation in the private sector will allow entrepreneurs to create unique and inexpensive options for everyone, including low-income residents. In the long term, working with city planners to create a infrastructure policy that encourages multiple modes of transportation will be essential for an equitable transportation network in the future.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
Allowing for mixed used development and removing barriers to job growth will create jobs right in our Rochester neighborhoods where they will be in walking distance from their jobs. Think of the neighborhoods that this is already possible. Very successful areas such as East Ave, Park Ave, Monroe, Alexander. All of these are zoned for mixed use and they allow for people in the neighborhoods to also work in the neighborhoods. The areas of the city that are Zoned R1 (most strictly) don’t allow for jobs to come into the neighborhoods. Instead you need to rely on transportation out of your neighborhood to find a job. City Council can and should revise our zoning so that it doesn’t prevent jobs from coming into our neighborhoods.
City residents will use alternative modes of transportation when it’s available, useful, and affordable. Although many people are willing to take the extra steps of biking, walking, or using mass transit for moral or environmental reasons, most people will continue to use personal vehicles as long as it’s convenient and makes financial sense. Big changes to transportation behavior require cultural and technical changes. By making the changes to mass transit approach, regulations, and city code recommended above, there will be situations where city residents are more likely to have access to alternative transportation options in their neighborhoods and throughout the city. There will be more situations where it will make more sense to walk, bike, or use a service than to take a personal vehicle.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
There has been a very diverse outlook on parking downtown. Some people (especially business owners) feel as if there isn’t enough parking for their customers, or parking that is convenient enough. While others believe there is an abundance of parking and that there should be less of it. Downtown is already extremely crowded when it comes to development. Adding more parking lots and parking areas isn’t feasible without more development and a significant cost to the Rochester community.
As I think about this issue I think both sides need to be considered for a solution. How do you provide the convenience of driving and owning your own vehicle while thinning out traffic and dense parking? Although the easy answer is we should have better public transportation so people don’t need to rely on their vehicles for convenience I don’t foresee that as an overnight or immediately available change. I do believe there is an opportunity for the private sector to create a park and ride option outside of downtown that provides ample parking services and shuttles you downtown to where you want to be, or to a zagster spot. Businesses can offer vouchers to their customers to cover the parking and they can maintain the convenience. If done right you could pay the same as you do for downtown parking without actually needing to find a spot while maintaining the convenience.
Another option would be to leverage technology and build an app that will track open parking spots, so that people can quickly find the closest available parking spot. Other cities have done this successfully. We need to be more innovative with our city government so we aren’t continuously behind the times.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
Aggressive traffic enforcement does not necessarily solve safety problems for the people of Rochester. We some traffic enforcement for a few reckless individuals, but it’s often used to generate revenue and it can lead to unnecessary conflicts between police and citizens. Traffic safety could be improved with better design. By designing our streets to slow down cars, respect cyclists, and draw attention to pedestrians, we’ll improve safety outcomes without needing to resort to ineffective punitive measures.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
No.
Building a mass transit network that is financially sustainable is incredibly difficult. When building a fixed route streetcar system, getting it right is critical. Studies aren’t conclusive but we can look to market behavior as our guide. City Council should reduce regulatory barriers to allow the private sector innovative rapid transition options in Rochester (think Uber, Lyft, and Zagster all of these are private sector solutions to problems that local government have failed to solve). These solutions may fill the need for mass transit solutions or demonstrate the need for public investment in costlier transit infrastructure in popular travel corridors.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
As mentioned in the answer on traffic enforcement, structural changes to our streets play a critical role in improving safety for our citizens.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
As someone who grew up riding my bike on the streets of Rochester and using my bike as a commuter, I know how important bike infrastructure is. My bike was my first mode of transportation to my first job, and I was hit by cars not once but twice while riding my bike. There’s a growing trend of people cycling in Rochester for commuting and recreation. The city should continue looking for affordable options to improve bicycle safety through defined lanes, protected lanes, and measures to encourage safe road sharing with vehicles.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
Every time a cyclist or pedestrian is injured or even killed by a driver, it’s heartbreaking. As I mentioned, I’ve been struck while riding my bike too. Many of these accidents are preventable. Our streets must be built for an urban environment where people live, work, walk, and play. Streets designed to slow drivers down and invite them to recognize potential conflicts will do far more to improve safety and livability in Rochester than traffic enforcement on roads that invite drivers to speed and drive recklessly. That’s why I would support road diets and changes to road configurations for select problem areas in the city.
There are so many busy streets to name off it would probably be easier to name the streets that don’t need it. Lake Ave and Main street are some of the first that come to mind, but there are so many more in every neighborhood in our city. Many of these streets are busy and dangerous for pedestrians simply do not have any space at all to be on the street with a bicycle.
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
I’m not a fan of handing out taxpayer dollars as incentives. I’d much rather use them on our residents and neighborhoods. If we remove any subsidies for parking and allow prices to reflect the actual cost of maintaining parking lots we will see people do this on their own. They will look to carpooling and ask for better transportation options themselves. They may even collaborate and come up with an amazing idea that hasn’t been thought of yet as a solution.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
Our government is constantly looking to reinvent the wheel with our public transportation. I have visited cities that we never once used a car in. We were able to get from one end of the city to another conveniently at very little cost in the same amount of time that we would have in a car. We must look to those cities and their infrastructure instead of trying to make new solutions that do not work. We’ve done that time and time again. It is consistently failing. Sometimes it is better to acknowledge that the solution has already been found and adopt it. An example of this is our downtown transit center. We spent a lot of money, lost service areas, and don’t have better transportation, why did our local government choose this over a model that has been proven to work in cities our size?
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
I would like to see Rochester’s transportation network include more alternatives to single occupant vehicles, while empowering and protecting cyclists and pedestrians.
While ride sharing services like Lyft and Uber are helpful in reducing the number of vehicles on the road, increased investment in bicycle infrastructure would further reduce automobile reliance. As a member of City Council I would push to continue expanding the number of bicycle rental kiosks and make sure they are distributed evenly among all our cities neighborhoods. I would also asses areas where speed humps, stop signs, and other traffic control devices could be deployed to increase compliance with speed limits.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
Rochester’s greatest transportation challenge is overcoming a highway system that was built to accommodate America’s reliance on automobiles. Filling in the Inner Loop was a vital first step towards reconnecting our neighborhoods and increasing pedestrian mobility throughout the East End/Down corridor which is vital to the economic success of our city. Prioritizing people over automobiles is the key to revitalizing our City and overcoming the legacy transportation system designed specifically for automobiles.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
Advocacy and providing some funding for programs that increase access to alternate forms of transportation.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
As a routine part of the City’s economic development efforts, businesses which seek tax credits and other financing assistance should be required to either demonstrate their location is accessible by existing public transportation options, or contribute to the cost of expanding public transportation. This would incentivize density, while preventing urban sprawl, and make jobs more accessible to city residents.
Increasing the number of bike rental kiosks is a great way to encourage people to move around without relying on vehicles. Similarly, partnering with local business to provide coupons and gift cards as incentives for residents to ride buses several times a month would both reduce traffic congestion and emissions, but it would also provide publicity for new businesses. Most importantly, incentivizing ridership on existing public transportations options increases familiarity and helps eliminate the psychological barrier of trying something new for the first time.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
My broad vision for improving the traffic situation downtown is to facilitate policies and planning decisions that ultimately reduce the total number of cars downtown at any given time. We should not be trying to make parking easier and encouraging vehicle dependence, we should be creating a more robust and holistic public transportation system that allows people to get where they want to be without taking a car.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
While traffic enforcement is critical to improving the safety of our families, pedestrians and bicyclists, I believe that the question of prioritization of enforcement is best left to the career professionals of the Rochester Police Department. I do however believe that by having one week every several months were RPD officers aggressively monitor traffic violations would go a long way towards changing motorist’s driving behaviors, especially in residential neighborhoods
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
Reducing the number of vehicles that are on city streets would make walkers and bikers more comfortable sharing the road and sidewalks. I support a feasibility study for transportation alternatives as a way to jump start the potential virtuous cycle that could result from the use of street cars, circulators, etc.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
Yes. I support a 25mph speed limit and the implementation of traffic calming practices because we need to ensure that pedestrians and cyclists feel safe sharing the road. By making roads narrower and building protected bike lanes, we can both protect our residents who already ride bicycles and encourage new riders to leave their car at home.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
The bicycle lanes provide a safer space for the use of bicycles to transit around our city. I believe we should work to provide more lanes like those alone lake ave in Charlotte where there is a path next to the sidewalk.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
The road diet or change in road ways will greatly increase the safety for all commuters.
Lake Ave, Main Street near culver, West Main Street, reconfigure Mt. Hope at Elmwood
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
Incentivize carpool through preferred parking and reduced rates. Stipend for alternate vehicles. Bus passes for commuters or reduced rate.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
My vision for Rochester’s transportation network is that every citizen will have adequate access to affordable transportation.
I plan to achieve this by working within my governmental capacities to work with our Federal , State, County and local leaders to make this a reality.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
Making sure transportation is convenient and affordable.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
I feel City government plays a major role in leading the way to helping to assure adequate transportation for all citizens such as recent roll that City played in Zagster bikes.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
I like the ride sharing program that the Mayor started with casino. I think more ride sharing programs can work in our community.
Encourage ride sharing.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
I think we have to look at how other cities our size are dealing with this situation and implement ideas that work.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
Look at whats working in other Cities our size.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
No.
I support surveying the community as to what the community wants to study so we don’t spend unnecessary public dollars on studies.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
For public safety I think it a good idea.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
I like whats been done on Jefferson , Thurston, Ford street.
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
Maybe some types of incentives would work?
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
My vision for Rochester’s transportation network is a system that is so accessible, user friendly, and intuitive that everybody uses it, not just those who don’t have other options. I also dream of a transportation system that creates equity of access for those same people without options so that they don’t spend hours away from their homes and children just to get to a job that barely pays the bills. I dream of a transportation system that is uplifting and brings people together, something that we can take pride in.
I plan to achieve this vision for Rochester by working with RTS and organizations like Reconnect Rochester as a city councilperson to re-imagine our transportation system and develop proposals that fit our city and our needs. We can also use van pools to save money where it makes sense and work to appoint people to the transit authority that are invested in and passionate about public transportation so that more dollars can be directed towards these projects.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation? What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
Rochester’s greatest obstacles are budget, system design, lack of transit oriented design and lack of comprehensive walking and biking infrastructure. Our transportation system also has an image problem where there is a negative connotation around using public transportation because it has been inefficient, hard to use, and poorly maintained for so long. Branding can go a long way in encouraging millennials and folks who have cars to use public transit and feel a greater sense of social responsibility in their transportation choices.
I think it is important for members of city government to actively advocate for improvements in our transportation network and not just wait for proposals to come across their desks. I will be a strong voice for transportation on city council as a climate and social justice activist and will work to educate my peers and other city leaders on the exponential benefits to a community like ours of having a robust and equitable network. Whether it is reducing segregation, lifting people out of poverty, taking care of the environment, or contributing to overall quality of life, there is something almost anyone can relate to and get behind in the list of benefits of a healthy, accessible public transportation system.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
Aside from expanding and improving access to public transportation, the city can incentivize businesses to build and develop along transportation routes that already exist. The new Zagster system is a great way of improving accessibility because the bikes can be locked at any bike rack, and I would like to see that program expanded. I would be thrilled to see the use of cooperative ride share and car sharing ventures.
First, it has to be accessible and intuitive enough for it to make sense to use for people who have busy schedules and limited capital in the areas of time and energy. Second, by rebranding our busses and running public advertising campaigns about the social and environmental benefits of using public transportation we can attract and capitalize on the desire for and understanding of public transportation that is already there in our community. I believe there are lots of people in Rochester who want to use public transportation and believe in the benefits for whom it is not yet a viable option. If we can give them a system that makes sense to use and fits into their lives, I believe they will make an effort to take advantage.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
By improving our transportation system and increasing multi-modal transportation options, we can reduce the number of cars descending on downtown. I’d also like to see more park and rides in the suburbs with regular service so that it is convenient for people to leave their cars and take public transportation downtown. I do not support building more parking garages.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
I believe that consistency in traffic enforcement is important – it affects people’s lives – but we can also reduce the need for enforcement by enacting traffic calming measures that free up human resources and energy, creating less conflict between citizens and police and sustaining a system that manages itself.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
These strategies have worked in other cities and are effective in bringing people together and connecting high traffic areas while increasing economic development, quality of life, and improving access to our most valuable assets.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
I agree with the Vision Zero initiative in that “no loss of life is acceptable” and that we can design our streets and city to be so safe and friendly to walkers and bikers that severe injuries and fatalities can be a thing of the past. Whether it is speed limits, speed bumps, road dieting, road painting projects, roundabouts, or protected bike lanes, there are so many thoughtful and strategic ways to plan our city for safety and we can learn a lot from other cities who have taken the lead on these initiatives.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
A bicycle lane network doesn’t just benefit the people who are already using bikes instead of cars, it will encourage people to bike and do so even more while reducing the negative effects of cars on the environment and getting people out of their cars and into their communities, interacting with and lifting the spirit of the town. There are definitely folks in the community who would bike to work if it was reliably safer to do so.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
The safety of our roads for everyone, especially pedestrians and bikers, is extremely valuable and we will reap the benefits for generations.
Main Street, Lake Avenue.
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
The city can incentivize public transportation for its employees by providing bus or Zagster passes to city workers who live in areas where transportation is already accessible.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
I think Reconnect Rochester is doing an incredible job of championing these changes and strategies and educating the public on why this matters and I look forward to working with them and elevating their voices and ideas in our city conversations.
What is your vision for Rochester’s transportation network? How do you plan to achieve that vision?
Series of transportation options that includes walking, biking, ride-sharing, public transit and private vehicles. Available at all times to all people.
Have supported legislation to introduce uber/lyft, reduce regulations on taxis, increase bike lanes, improve public transit, introduce bike sharing.
What are Rochester’s greatest challenges in regards to transportation?
Transportation options for people with disabilities, transportation at all hours, transportation at all destinations.
What role do you see City government playing in building a more robust and equitable transportation network?
We are responsible for bike lanes, street construction, oversight for public transit.
What steps can the City take to improve accessibility to jobs for residents who do not own cars? What steps can the City take to encourage residents who own cars to increase their use of alternative modes of transportation?
We have implemented van pools, and supported ride-sharing/bike sharing. I will continue to lobby RGRTA to provide more off-hours service to non-city work destinations.
We can right-size parking, and possibly offer incentives (financial, or other) to residents who alter their transportation methods.
Broadly, what is your vision for improving the parking situation downtown?
We have more spaces now than are needed, but not in the right places. I will advocate for a circulator (bus/trolley) that can move people as required. We must be careful not to overbuild parking as options to private vehicles increase.
How do you think the City should prioritize traffic enforcement relative to other issues?
I would like to see traffic enforcement given higher prioriy.
Do you support studying the feasibility of modern streetcars, downtown circulators, and various rapid transit options for Rochester? Why or why not?
Yes.
Circulator, and streetcar optons could help resolve the parking concerns.
Do you support a “Vision Zero” style approach to road safety, which includes a 25 mph speed limit on residential streets in the City and other traffic calming practices and policies? Why or why not?
Yes.
A Vision Zero approach could help improve road safety and help eliminate deaths due to road design problems.
Do you support the continued expansion of a bicycle lane network throughout the City? Why or why not?
Yes.
Bicycles are among the most democratic transportation options. They don’t require a license, insurance or inspections. I will continue to advocate for bike based transportation options.
Do you support road diets or significant changes to road configurations to improve safety on any major roadways in the City? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?
Yes.
Lane reduction measures such as bumpouts, roundabouts, and bike lanes have proven to increase traffic, bike, and pedestrian safety.
We are currently working on Main St, and I would like to see more work done on Lake Ave, Mt. Hope and Mt. Read.
What steps do you think we can take to encourage employees (especially City employees) to commute using transportation options other than single occupant automobiles (walk/bike/bus/carpool/etc.)?
We can look at providing subsidies or other economic support to employees who decide to commute using alternative methods.
Are there any other comments or thoughts you’d like to share?
We need to reduce the “stigma” of non-car transportation options. Our city, like most, is car centric and anyone not using a car is seen as “less than”.
Unfortunately we did not receive a response from Marcus Williams.
Reconnect Rochester would like to thank all of the candidates (and their teams) for the time and effort they’ve dedicated to our community, and for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to working with them very soon.
Cast Your Vote (just for funsies):
Who will you be voting for Mayor?
Rachel Barnhart 33%, 58 votes
58 votes33%
58 votes - 33% of all votes
James Sheppard 24%, 42 votes
42 votes24%
42 votes - 24% of all votes
Lovely Warren 23%, 40 votes
40 votes23%
40 votes - 23% of all votes
Alex White 10%, 17 votes
17 votes10%
17 votes - 10% of all votes
Tony Micciche 9%, 16 votes
16 votes9%
16 votes - 9% of all votes
Lori F. Thomas 1%, 1 vote
1 vote1%
1 vote - 1% of all votes
Total Votes: 174
September 4, 2017
- November 7, 2017
Voting is closed
*Your vote will remain anonymous.
Who will you be voting for City Council? (Select up to 5)
Several local attractions are offering discounted admission this Friday, June 16, to celebrate ROC Transit Day.
In years past Reconnect Rochester has organized the event, aimed at encouraging Rochesterians to leave their cars and instead use public transit for their daily travels. While we have no big festivities planned for this year, you can still participate in the “car-free holiday”. Simply leave your car at home this Friday, ride the bus, walk, bike, enjoy the fresh air – and wish your friends a “Happy ROC Transit Day!”
You can also take advantage of several great deals being offered at local attractions when you show your RTS bus pass (plan your trip using Google Transit or the RTS mobile app)…
Show your RTS fare card at these participating locations, Friday (6/16):
ARTISANworks
$2 off admission
Route 48 University – bus stop at Blossom and University
George Eastman Museum
$5 off general admission, $3 off for seniors, $1 off for students, $2 off for Dryden admission
Route 57 East Ave.
Show your support for public transit and a healthier community. Ditch your car this Friday, and use #RocTransitDay to tell the world why you participate in ROC Transit Day! Tweet #ROCtransitday
Guest essay submitted by: Michael Tomb & Marcia Zach, Highland Park residents…
Dear Friends,
As many of you are aware, because of a crash near the intersection of Meigs & Linden, in 2009, we created the HPNA Traffic Calming team which eventually became “The Highland Placemaking Team”. We came up with a plan for traffic calming in the area of our playground and, although quite a few items were implemented, many of the safety related traffic calming features were not because of County resistance, City policy and other things.
Our intent was to avoid something as what JUST happened in my neighbor’s front yard. No children should have to witness such a scene in their front yard while waiting for the school bus. I am thankful we avoided (barely!) a major heart-wrenching tragedy, but it was NOT because of this driver’s fear of the consequences of being so careless. It was only a matter of timing that prevented something much worse from occurring. You and I both know we need to do better.
We are also both saddened and absolutely outraged the driver was NOT ticketed. Maybe I am bit ashamed of my city as well. My assessment after working on matters of traffic calming in Rochester has actually been to expect that kind of response from law enforcement. Indeed, I have been telling friends that if a person desires to damage property and and even kill innocent bystanders, in order to face the fewest number of consequences, the car IS your weapon of choice. It wasn’t always that way… the tolerance for irresponsible driving was a hard -earned privilege.Read more
